Projects of monolithic houses with removable formwork. And still a brick

There are many ways to build houses - both high-rise and low-rise. But in modern suburban housing construction most common:

• brickwork - good old brick, which is laid in several layers.
• monolithic construction - a concrete mixture poured into special forms - formwork. It is held by its own strength and a metal frame inside.

In terms of popularity, the brick is bypassing the monolith, and in this article we will analyze - is it deserved?

But before comparing these materials, one issue needs to be clarified: it is impossible to build a low-rise building exclusively from a monolith, and only from brick - it is undesirable.

In any building there will always be both monolithic and "structural", moving elements. Only their combination can ensure both the reliability and flexibility of your structure. And now to business.

Issue price

…should concern you only if you choose an apartment in a high-rise building. In low-rise buildings, both because of the greater technical complexity of monolithic construction and because of the need to mix types, the difference is not so great. The only area where you will definitely feel the price difference is the quality of the materials.

Time is money

But at this point, monolithic construction is ahead of brick, and significantly. The secret is in the method of laying: if the brick requires thoughtful and concentrated laying in several layers, the monolithic walls are simply poured into the "mould" of the formwork. Thus, in this "nomination" the monolith wins, but ...

Did you guess that it's not so simple? As soon as it comes not to typical, but to individual housing construction, standardized formwork becomes useless. For each interesting idea, for each unusual angle, you will need your own "mould".

The warmth of your home

Thermal insulation and wall thickness is an important factor. But here, too, a monolith is preferable. "Why?" - you ask? Its final heat-conducting properties are several times better than those of bricks. This is largely facilitated not only by the use of cellular concrete and porous insulation, but also by the absence of seams.

This means that with the same thermal insulation, the thickness of the walls in the brick version of the house will be much greater. And who wants to give precious square meters?

spoon of honey: The use of ceramic hollow bricks slightly reduces this gap in thermal insulation, but very little.

The weight

The weight of the house determines both the massiveness of the foundation and the overall complexity of the building. And again, due to the variety of light impurities, the monolith will come out 15% -20% lighter than its brick "brother". What does this mean for you as a future home owner? Time savings and reliability - a monolithic house will be less affected by groundwater or excessive flooding.

Seismic resistance

And again, the monolith is in the forefront. Earthquakes in Russia are rare. But no one is immune from minor troubles, so it is worth taking into account the ability of the house to resist the elements: both earthquakes and hurricanes. A monolith, having a more flexible structure, will bend and settle, while a brick is more likely to crack.

Shaping

But what if you have a crazy or crazy interesting idea and want to "pack" your home into unimaginable shapes?

Well, in this case, monolithic buildings are your choice. They easily "merge" into any formwork, although it is important not to overdo it: despite all the strength, each unevenness will reduce the stability of the structure. Brick, of course, is also capable of folding into completely futuristic forms, but it does this with great difficulty.

To imagine this spatial functionality of a monolith and a brick, compare hardening rubber and legos.

Finishing

Would you like the same robe, but with mother-of-pearl buttons? Well, both brick and concrete provide you with complete freedom of action - you can make the facade to your taste and discretion. But in this category, a brick wins and loses at the same time: after all, unlike a concrete monoblock, a brick wall is a beautiful facade in itself.

The house decided to start a new life

It also happens: the layout didn’t fit, make the living room bigger, and integrate an extension, but this wall needs to be ...

Infrequently, the owners of monolithic houses decide on such major changes in their home - and it's not so much about the cost, but about the time and troublesomeness of this activity. And sometimes impossible! After all, a brick is much more "mobile" than a monolith: it is easier to tear out and restore some separate piece from it. Moreover, to make internal partitions from concrete monoblocks, the solution is truly ... strange. They hold you tight like handcuffs.

Unexpected wiring in an unexpected place

In regard to engineering communications - electrical wiring, sewerage, heating - brick, in view of its collapsible structure, furnishes monolithic walls in no time. And although a concrete monoblock will not fall apart from the fact that you drill a couple of holes in it, large-scale changes will have to be abandoned.

Beauty is a terrible force

If we take the "bare" brick and monolith, then the former will leave the dull dullness of monoblocks far behind. The only catch is that monolithic houses are covered with a special finish, or even completely "wrapped" in their current competitor: brick. It only fits in one layer.

Of course, nothing prevents brick walls buy some unusual decor, but admit it - brick is beautiful, presentable, cozy. And you usually don't want to cover it with something else.

And still a brick

However, in today's market, it is brick that is preferred in. The reasons?

Qualitative studies have not been conducted, but we assume that the role is played by:

• prestige brick house;
• aesthetic appearance and its visual completeness without additional effort;
• the opinion that monolithic construction is characteristic of multi-storey buildings and is poorly correlated with individual housing construction

But in the end, brick is a reliable, time-tested and beautiful material. And although its physical characteristics are inferior to a concrete monoblock, the difference is not so significant, and the material itself is associated with comfort and warmth.

Monolithic cons? Of course have!

In fairness, it is also worth mentioning the shortcomings monolithic housing construction. Here is a couple of fly in the ointment:

• The metal structures on which the concrete mixture rests require careful installation.
• For the winter, the construction of monolithic houses is suspended or it requires the addition of antifreeze agents to the mixture.

In general, poured concrete is more susceptible to environmental influences than brick during curing. Accordingly, heat, frost, and rain will have to be taken into account, which requires both good materials and professionalism on the part of the construction company.

What is it to build from?

From everything! External and bearing walls they will feel great if they are made of monolithic concrete: the house will stand, and the heat will remain, and the sound insulation is excellent, and the facade can be decorated as you like.

However, internal partitions will feel much better in brick design, especially if you want to change something.

And if the brick is not to your liking?

Sometimes it happens. However, internal partitions do not bear as much weight as external walls, which means that you can use any material that is close to you: panels, wood, rubble stone. Even drywall! Although we would still not recommend using the latter actively.

And in order not to get into trouble and accurately calculate everything, at the same time, without studying the strength of materials, it is best to turn to. This will save you from complex calculations, guarantee reliability and help realize your wishes and ideas.

By the way, we have excellent specialists in the TopDom company.

Many people imagine a country house made of brick or wood. This creates a constant demand for such houses. But modern construction technologies are much more diverse. And there are significant advantages in construction using other technologies. Monolithic construction technology more common for urban housing. But now more and more people want to build or purchase a country house from a monolith.

Application of monolithic construction technology

Monolithic construction until the last 10 years, due to the lack of high-quality formwork and technological problems associated with concrete hardening in cold weather, almost did not develop in the private sector. Today, there are many high-quality formworks for construction (foreign and domestic), special additives accelerate the hardening of concrete.

Purely monolithic low-rise buildings are quite rare on the suburban real estate market: buildings with fixed formwork account for no more than 5% on the market of low-rise buildings. Houses of combined technology (from a monolith, lined with bricks, blocks, tiles ...) on the market are 60-70 percent, and in townhouses or duplexes - in general, the majority. In most cases, in suburban construction, a monolith is used for foundations or floors, sometimes developers use this technology for load-bearing walls. Such villages are considered to be built from a monolith (brick or decorative tiles are used for their exterior decoration).

Technology of monolithic construction is simple: the principle of creating a house frame is created similar to the bay of its foundation. The construction of low-rise buildings using monolithic technology is carried out by the method of removable or fixed formwork. At removable formwork the iron frame is enclosed with formwork, concrete mortar is poured into the formed niches. When it hardens and dries, the formwork is removed, the resulting concrete walls are lined with bricks or other materials.

Sometimes the formwork is not removed and it will remain part of the structure. Such materials include polystyrene foam, the use of which in the construction of a house in the form fixed formwork significantly reduces the construction time and facilitates its construction, which reduces the cost of the foundation. After reinforcing the space inside the formwork with reinforcement and supplying concrete into it, it is compacted with the help of vibration tools and, if necessary, leveled. The concrete then gains strength, and the formwork is removed (if it is removable). If it is additionally necessary to mount a heater, after dismantling the removable formwork, it is mounted on the walls. When using a fixed formwork, as a rule, the formwork itself is a heater. Then you can perform cladding and other finishing work. This technology allows you to perform construction with a minimum of losses for the adjacent landscape.

Strength monolithic structure and ease of use

Monolith advantage: short construction time; no restrictions in the configuration and use of architectural elements (bay windows, ledges, arches and special design ideas); higher seismic resistance of the structure, monolithic ceiling and floor have good sound insulation and durability. The monolith in the first years settles entirely, without the appearance of cracks (as in wooden and other houses). Disadvantages of monolithic construction technology: the dependence of construction on the weather and negative temperatures. Be on time build a monolithic house best for summer season. After all, concrete hardens in the open air and is affected by precipitation and temperature fluctuations, which then affects the strength of the structure.

A beautiful, strong and durable monolith deserves to be used for the construction of cottages no less than wood or brick. Monolithic houses are the most promising and modern housing construction technology. The monolith is no worse than traditional materials in many respects. If a monolithic house is well built, it will last more than a hundred years. Its strength will increase over time. Quality finished houses depends on compliance with construction technology (quality of installation and formwork material, quality of concrete used, compliance with temperature and other conditions). However, it must be remembered that the quality of the structure as a whole will depend not only on the type of building materials used, but also on geodetic control during construction work.

The cost of building a monolithic country house

Monolithic cottages are usually lighter than brick cottages, and their walls and floors can be much thinner in construction while maintaining the same characteristics as brick ones. Less quantity of materials for construction and costs for it. Monolith houses do not need a strong foundation, which reduces the cost of their construction. Monolithic houses are built very quickly, which significantly saves money. The cost of construction depends on the complexity of the project and the area of ​​the building, the number of window and door openings, and many other factors. A large number of interior rooms will increase the value of the house. At construction companies cost of installation of monolithic foundations up to about 13,000 rubles. per cubic meter of concrete. The erection of wall and floor structures during monolithic construction will cost 15,000-22,000 rubles per 1 cubic meter of reinforced concrete. On average, a monolithic cottage with an area of ​​​​up to 150 square meters. m. will cost about 3.5 million rubles, and a cottage of 300 square meters. m - up to 5.5 million rubles. Monolithic house during construction with fixed formwork up to 150 sq. m. with a roof and windows can cost about 19,000 rubles. per sq. m. If they are built from a monolith with cladding with other materials, the cost will increase to 24,000-30,000 rubles. per sq. m.

Relatively new technology for Russia low-rise construction provides for the construction of load-bearing structures from a concrete monolith.

Pros and cons of monolithic cottages

A common advantage for all monolithic houses is the wide range of architectural solutions and exterior finishes: any complex shapes and a wide variety of facing materials are available.

Common cons

• the need for expensive equipment rental (concrete pump and deep vibrator), which increases the cost of construction and makes it irrational to build a monolithic house with your own hands;
• the need to foresee all openings and channels for communications in advance; "dig" them into concrete wall, also reinforced with reinforcement - an impossible task;
• for metal-reinforced walls, grounding is required.

As for other features, this technology has become the subject of heated discussions about its real or imaginary cheapness, environmental friendliness and the “thermos effect”. Given the variety of materials and construction methods for monolithic houses, you should not “cut off your shoulder”, labeling “harmful to health” or talking about “environmental friendliness”. Each of the varieties of monolithic technologies has special properties, its pros and cons, which we will now consider.

Monolithic country houses with removable formwork

The load-bearing structures of such a building consist of

• formwork, which is removed after the filler has solidified (made of wood, metal, plastic);
• the wall material itself (concrete, reinforced concrete, wood concrete, foam concrete, concrete options with expanded clay fillers, sawdust).

The construction period is longer than according to the method of fixed formwork: having laid about 50 cm of concrete in the formwork, it is rammed with a deep vibrator, waiting for solidification, dismantling the formwork and collecting it to a higher level.

Depending on the soil and foundation, it is necessary to choose the material of the walls. Concrete and reinforced concrete are strong, but also heavy, have high thermal conductivity. In addition, reinforced concrete monolith with reinforcement from 8 to 18 mm will create "cold bridges". Such walls need good thermal insulation.

Wood concrete, foam concrete, expanded clay concrete, etc. they save heat well, are lighter, but less durable than concrete. In order to avoid "cold bridges" for reinforcement, you can use plastic mesh

Experts consider the main specific advantages of monolithic houses with removable formwork

• the ability to build a truly eco-friendly house, minimizing or completely abandoning the use of polymer materials;
• vapor permeability (especially for "light" varieties of concrete), which avoids the effect of a "thermos" when the walls sweat and freeze from the inside, which means saving on supply and exhaust ventilation;
• varieties such as sawdust concrete are quite affordable for do-it-yourself construction without a concrete pump.

Notable disadvantages of removable formwork are

• laboriousness (the formwork is fastened with screws, processed with a special solution to make it easier to remove);
• high cost caused by both increased labor costs and the need to produce individual formwork for a specific house project.

Monolithic country houses with fixed formwork

Houses with fixed formwork are built using

• fixed formwork (polystyrene foam, wood concrete, facing panels, etc.);
• concrete or reinforced concrete as wall material;
• sometimes additional layers (reinforcement, insulation, fastening of facing panels).

Arbolite formwork

Houses based on wood-concrete (arbolite) or chip-cement slabs do not have the “thermos” effect, are non-combustible and resistant to moisture. The arbolite frame is strong enough to place wall cabinets on it. The house needs to be insulated with polystyrene foam, but only on the outside, which ultimately does not reduce vapor permeability. This is a relatively expensive method of construction compared to other permanent formwork monolithic options.

Cladding panels

Fixed cladding panels as a frame consist of several layers: base, insulation, cladding fasteners, the cladding plate itself. There are combined offers on the market that combine removable and non-removable elements, in which the base of the cladding is removed after the concrete has hardened, leaving the cladding panel screwed to the wall. Such houses are characterized by vapor permeability, good thermal conductivity. The problem may be the choice of the project, because. finishing slabs have fixed sizes and it is most likely impossible to roam on the complex forms of a cottage.

SOTA panels

Reinforced panel wall (COTA) consists of expanded polystyrene reinforced with steel mesh on both sides. On top of the finished panel, after installation, special concrete is applied from the plastering station (this is called the soft tankrete method). Experts doubt the possibility of building load-bearing walls in this way, because. there is no monolithic thick layer of concrete in them - only a thin one on the surface. Expensive rebar and high grades of tankcrete concrete result in high construction costs. Of the advantages, one can name high heat and sound insulation properties and speed of assembly.

Styrofoam

It is without a doubt the cheapest and fast way build a monolithic country cottage. Expanded polystyrene blocks are mass-produced, have standard sizes, are made, including angular ones, and are assembled by means of spikes and grooves.

Big doubts arise about the safety of this material for health, because. it will be located not only on the outside, but also on the inside of the wall of the building.

The reason for other problems of houses on polystyrene fixed formwork is a violation of construction technology. For example, ignoring the corner blocks leads to the fact that cracks form in the corners of the house. And these are, firstly, “cold bridges”; secondly, the road for rodents and insects to soft, warm and cozy polystyrene foam, where it is so convenient to make a nest for yourself.

The notorious "thermos effect", for which such cottages are often scolded, occurs if the project did not use supply and exhaust ventilation.

The cost of a monolithic cottage

Prices of contractors for the construction of 1 sq. m of a monolithic cottage in fixed formwork vary as follows:

• 11-11.5 thousand rubles for a monolith made of concrete M 300 in a fixed formwork made of expanded polystyrene;
• about 12 thousand rubles. for a monolith of foam concrete or expanded clay concrete on metal reinforcement;
• from 12 to 15 thousand rubles. for a monolith with a fixed frame made of facing panels;
• from 16 to 18 thousand rubles. for a house made of monolithic foam concrete D-250-300 with fixed formwork made of cement particle board;

Houses with removable formwork are more expensive - from 14 thousand rubles. for a house made of concrete M 150 in a wooden formwork.

Thus, it must be recognized that fast in construction, warm and inexpensive monolithic houses are a very attractive option for building a country cottage. The most common and cheapest option, on a frame made of expanded polystyrene, unfortunately, is not the best for health. However, many unpleasant features of this material can be avoided if the construction technology is followed exactly.